Near Open Water

This collection of short stories is disturbing in its honesty, as it focuses a sharp yet intimate eye upon the people of the Caribbean. The characters face problems of freedom, history, race, class, violence, entrapment and morality. Theirs is a region in constant flux, trying to break away from its dehumanising past, yet uncertain how to manage the present and plan for the future.

Keith Jardim is unflinching in his portrayal of the realities of Caribbean life: if any peace is to be found, it is either hard-won or precarious. Though the stories can be dark, however, they also find solace in the natural beauty of the Caribbean.

Keith Jardim is from Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana. His stories have appeared in many publications, including the anthologies Tell Tales 4: The Global Village, edited by Courttia Newland and Monique Roffey, and Trinidad Noir. In 2008 he was invited to read at the 10th International Short Story Conference in Cork, Ireland. He is currently Assistant Professor of English Literature and Creative Writing at Gulf University in Kuwait.